“I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 1:4-6 CEB)
A pastor was walking along one fine day when he saw a glorious garden. The vegetables were full and rich in reds, golds, and greens. The vines hung low with fruit. The flowers fairly exploded in silent starbursts of color.
A grizzled old man was on his hands and knees, pulling weeds. The pastor commented to the gardener, “Isn’t it wonderful what God can do with a patch of dirt!”
The gardener looked up, paused for a moment to wiped the sweat off his brow, and thoughtfully replied, “Mister, you should have seen this dirt when God was tending it alone.”
Although God does wonderful things, it seems like he reserves some of his most amazing miracles for those times when we cooperate in his grace. In scripture, Jesus often asks something of those he heals: “Go and wash yourself.” “Will you share your bread and fish?” “Do you believe?”
In fact, the greatest miracle of all is our salvation – and it is a cooperative effort. God doesn’t force us to have a change of heart. Instead, we have free will. We can choose to accept the grace and forgiveness of Jesus Christ, or we can reject it. We can’t save ourselves – only the sacrifice of Jesus Christ makes that possible. But Christ won’t save us unless we cooperate and accept his gift.
Our God is inherently one of community: the mysterious Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, shows that in God’s nature is already a cooperative relationship. Humanity was created and is invited to share in that relationship.
And what is true of God is also true of the church. The church is not any one person, and it is certainly not the pastor! What we achieve is a cooperative miracle: the Spirit works with me and you, and we achieve amazing things.
As we celebrate my ordination this month, I continually lift of prayers of praise and thanks to God for my placement here in Mosinee. As Paul said of the Philippian church, my prayers are prayers of joy! I am thankful for the ways we are partners in ministry, and for the ways God works through us to make a difference in this community.
Take a step back and consider: how have you been participating in the work of the church? Our work is to love and praise God in worship, to deepen our discipleship through prayer and study, to love our neighbors through works of charity and mercy, and to share the Good News with those who still desperately need to hear a word of grace and mercy and joy.
God has given us a little piece of dirt. Let’s tend the spiritual garden here in Mosinee, cooperating with each other and with God, and see what blossoms in the years ahead!
Pastor Park